Vim Newbie – Python Edit/Compile/Run cycle and integrating py help questions

[Gerhard Haering]

Daniel K wrote:
> I can't seem to find how to ask Vim to "compile" the current buffer
> the way I could in emacs (using c-c, c-c.)  What I'm hoping for is to
> run the current buffer, show the output in a split window
> (horizontal?) and move the cursor in the buffer to the first error. 
> Is there a Vim way of doing things?

Sure, you can define custom errorformats. This (untested) is perhaps a 
start:

http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=477

> Is there any way to integrate some python language reference to be
> accessed from within Vim?  Something like hot-key keyword lookup to
> the docs.

Not sure, but should be easy to implement if you have an external 
command that can be called with a Python keywords as argument. Perhaps 
the info version of the Python documentation?

> Is asking for keyword completion in Vim going against the grain of
> what Vim stands for?  (Simplicity)

Hmm. For starters, you could define a few abbreviations (:h 
abbreviations) for common snippets. I can type ok, so I don't need these ;-)

> Any suggestions or pointers to where I can find these answers would be
> greatly appreciated.

a) http://vim.org/ - "Scripts" and "Tips" - you'll also find 
Python-related stuff there.

b) The vim mailing list (also available via the news.gmane.org newsserver).

>  I'm really enjoying the power of Vim!!

I like vim a lot, too :-)

-- Gerhard